Thinking about getting a pedigree rescue....

[MummyPigLovesAppleSauce]

DH and I are thinking of getting a Dcat. We have both had family cats growing up but this would be our first cat as grown ups. We have two small DC (under 3), but we are confident that they will be respectful of the cat etc.
I love long haired cats and would love a Maine Coon or Forest Cat (my mum has a Maine Coon). DH is leaning towards a moggy. We definitely want a rescue cat and could potentially get more than one, if they would be happier in a pair. Not looking for a kitten but I think an older cat might struggle with the DC, if not used to them.
Does anyone have any advice for us? Know any good pedigree rescue centres etc? Or do you think the DC are too young and we should just wait?

[MummyPigLovesAppleSauce]

Also if we do decide to get a moggy from an ordinary rescue, will the rescue centre think I'm being weird for wanting to wait for a long haired cat? Will they make me feel bad for not taking one of the other cats that need a home, rather than waiting for one I think is pretty?!

[crazycatgal]

The rescue place that I got my cats from will not rehome to someone with children under 5. I'm not sure what other places will be like although I would say to wait a couple of years.

[anon1987]

I think you may wait a while if you're choosing for its looks and breed.
Also they don't usually give cats to homes with children under 5.
They may be put off handing you a cat if you go in looking for a specific breed.
I would firstly check if they accept children under 5, and then make casual visits to the cattery until you find what you're looking for, chances are you'll fall in love with one and not care what breed it is.
I know that with cats pedigrees often don't live as long as moggies, average age for Norwegian forest cat is 12 years, my moggie lasted 20, obviously there are exceptions to the rule, but it's something to think about, especially if you're not having it from being a kitten.

[anon1987]

Also look on gumtree, people often give their cats away on there too.

[NotMeNoNo]

We have rehomed cats from the Burmese Cat Club (before DC). It depends on the cat whether they are used to children, young, old, timid, etc. They were fabulous pets. Current cat is a moggy , he's lovely but much less interactive than our Burmese. Most pedigree breeds will have a club/society that oversees shows, breed standards etc and they will do rehoming as part of their welfare activities.

[NotMeNoNo]

You need to keep an eye on this page here

[NorthernLurker]

Cats protection rehomed our moggy with us when our youngest wasn't quite three. They divided the cats into no children, older children only and bombproof. Ours was from the latter.....

[Toddlerteaplease]

I got my two from St Francis Persian rescue. They do have other breeds in occasionally. They are a very small charity based near Ripon.

[MummyPigLovesAppleSauce]

Thanks everyone. We aren't in a rush so I'll have a look and think about all of the options

[bigbuttons]

personally I wouldn't get a rescue cat unless you have oodles of patience, time and a very quiet household.
Rescue cats are pretty well always going to be nervy and unsettled, the last thing they need is very young children.

I had 2 rescues recently that I had to return to the breeder. One bit me very badly and I had to go to hospital. The household was not calm enough of them and I don't have very young children any more ( they were persian/tonkinese cross).

You would be better waiting until your children are older and sensible with animals and getting a kitten.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

With two young children I would err away from a long haired cat just due to the time commitment for grooming. I see a large number of long haired cats for sedation and dematting as owners have not had the time for grooming.
Good quality rescues have properly assessed rescue cats for suitability to households. Not all rescues are nervous some are super confident.
Pedigree cats whilst I love their beauty there are so many health problems I would go for a moggie.

[DumbledoresApprentice]

My rescue cat is totally bombproof. Not at all nervy or unsettled. She was straight out onto my lap as soon as we got her home. She came from the Blue Cross and we were told she's a Maine Coon but she could well be a cross of some sort (doesn't bother us in the slightest). We wanted a longhaired cat because my allergies don't react as badly to longhaired cats. There are lots of lovely longhaired moggies out there though.

[MummyPigLovesAppleSauce]

Dumble your baby is gorgeous!!! Looks just like my (mum's) Murph!

[Polter]

PolterCat is in the bombproof rescue cat category too. There were several very pretty long-haired cats available when I chose him, but he made me laugh so I chose him

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Rescue cats are pretty well always going to be nervy and unsettled, the last thing they need is very young children.

Not all rescue cats are nervy and unsettled! It depends on the temperament of the cat and the rescue will know which ones are suitable. You're just as likely to buy a nervy and unsettled cat.

[Toddlerteaplease]

My two were very nervous to start off with, needed a lot of patience. But are fine now.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I love them Toddler, they are gorgeous girls!

[BrexitSucks]

One of my rescues is a psycho cat, but other 2 are friendly & loving & bombproof.

Our local CPL would only place kittens (no other type of cat) with children under 12.

[Nonibaloni]

Our first rescue cat came from an animal hoarder. He was under 8 weeks when they were all taken and there was no sign of his mum or litter mates.

Nervy he is not.

DS was 3 and (much to my disappointment) ignored him completely.

Be warned we now have 3 rescues and a dog.

[DumbledoresApprentice]

Murph is lovely!

[NorthernLurker]

Our rescue wasn't nervy. Couldn't get enough is us in fact. The only thing that worried her was eating her food quickly enough as she's lived as a stray whilst pregnant and couldn't quite believe the food was actually in front of her for her. It was really sad. The day she started leaving food in her bowl for later was a great day.

[ocelot41]

Maine Coon Cat Club do rehomes

maine-coon-cat-club.com/kittens/rescue/index.html

[ocelot41]

If you are in London, there is a lovely MC and a mog on there now?

[Fliptophead]

I've only ever had rescue cats. Lazy sacks of pudding would be a more appropriate way of describing them than nervy. Same as when we were children and used to take in strays.

[NemosKnickers]

OH MY WORD these blummin cats are GORGEOUS!

OP, I was in your situation last year and nearly spunked 500 quid on a fancy cat (whilst these lot tried to talk me down!). Our local rescues wouldn't consider us because of our 3 year old, but as it turned out a beautiful stray turned up for us and he is the most beautiful (NFC type?) cat and I love him!

So, just bide your time and wait for the right cat to come along...